Tour Overview
This high altitude alpine trek explores the heart of the Sherpa homeland, visiting Namche Bazaar before ascending the stunning Gokyo Valley to the glacial lakes under Cho Oyu (8153m). Here we climb Gokyo Ri for a marvellous view of Everest and the rest of this high mountain wilderness. We cross the glaciated Cho La Pass and rejoin the classic route to Base Camp used by the great climbing parties. Allowing ample time for acclimatisation, we are able to get well away from the heavily trekked areas. Our aim is to visit Everest Base Camp on the Khumbu Glacier, and climb Kala Pattar (5545m), which offers fabulous close-up views of Everest.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1Start Kathmandu.
Day 2
Today there is a half-day tour of Kathmandu, led by a trained local guide. The tour visits the Durbar Square in the heart of the old city. Here is the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving and four fine towers. Outside is Kumari Chowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. All around is a maze of temples and images, such as the terrifying Black Bhairab, and Shiva and Parvati gazing benignly down on their subjects. Leading away from the square in all directions are narrow alleys, full of the most amazing variety of shops and stalls. The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing – you may like to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. There will also be a full trek briefing today.
Day 3
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2800m), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (or 'Milk River'). We descend from the small plateau, which only just manages to hold Lukla airstrip, down into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2652m), where we will spend our first night.
Day 4-6
Leaving the main trail we climb steeply out of Namche Bazaar to the villages of Kunde and Khumjung with excellent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and many other magnificent peaks. We can perhaps take tea at the spectacularly situated Everest View Hotel. We will also have the opportunity of visiting the Edmund Hillary hospital in Kunde. Passing through the village of Khumjung we visit the monastery, which houses the only remaining yeti scalp. We then drop down to the main trail at Kyanjuma high above the Dudh Kosi with excellent views of Ama Dablam across the valley.
Day 7-8
From Dole the trail is steep in places as it passes through Lhabarma and Luza along the side of the valley, high above the river through scrub junipers until we cross the sandy spurs to Machhermo (4410m). It was here in 1974 that a yeti was reported to have attacked a sherpa and killed three yaks!
Day 9
We spend today acclimatising to the altitude. From our lodge we walk up onto the ridge above Machhermo for even better views of the magnificent mountains. We can either take a packed lunch or return to the lodge for lunch.
Day 10
We begin today by climbing a ridge for an excellent view down the valley to Kangtaiga and also up towards Cho Oyu (8153m). The valley now widens as the trail passes through Pangkha then descends to the riverbank before beginning the steep climb onto the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpo Glacier. We pass the first of the lakes at Gokyo where a family of Brahminy ducks reside and then follow the level trail to the summerhouses and walled meadows of Gokyo at 4750m. Gokyo is a small settlement of lodges on the shores of a blue lake. In the afternoon we can walk up the hill behind camp for incredible views of the Ngozumpo Glacier.
Day 11
An early start this morning for the ascent of Gokyo Ri (5360m), a small peak above Gokyo village. As we climb the views become even more fantastic and from the top we can see four of the seven highest peaks in the Nepal Himalaya: Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Stretching out for miles below us is the longest glacier in Nepal – the Ngozumpo glacier, which tumbles down from the slopes of Cho Oyu. One of the best all round views in Nepal, the climb is well worth the effort. We return to Gokyo for lunch. Mid afternoon we retrace our steps to the second lake and climb to the crest of the moraine overlooking the Ngozumpo glacier. The route across the glacier is well marked with cairns and takes us to the eastern side of the Gokyo Valley. We stay tonight at Dragnag (4700m) at the foot of the Cho La Pass.
Day 12-13
Leaving Dzongla we continue our descent on an easy trail. Crossing a shallow stream the main path drops down to Pheriche. Our route contours the grassy slopes of the Chola Tso. The energetic can make a detour to Awi Peak for even better views of the Chalotse and Tawoche across the valley. We finally join the main trail again just below Lobuje. Depending on how the group feel we may spend the night at Lobuje, or continue on to Gorak Shep. The trail to Gorak Shep climbs steadily by the side of the Khumbu Glacier. After crossing glacier rubble we arrive at Gorak Shep (5288m), a summer yak herders settlement situated at the foot of Kala Pattar.
Day 14-15
We are now surrounded by giant Himalayan peaks; Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Pumori tower above us and the sight of these snowy peaks glowing gold and pink at sunrise and sunset is quite unforgettable. We follow the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorak Shep (5288m) where we spend the night of day 14. From here we ascend the small peak of Kala Pattar ('black rock') at 5545m where we can look down over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a most magnificent view of the Khumbu glacier and above all a close up sight of the world's highest mountain which the Nepalese call Sagamartha - Head of the Waters and the Sherpas Chomolungma - Mother of the World. We head off on the trail to Base Camp along the crest of the moraine at first and then onto the Khumbu Glacier itself, where we get magnificent close up views of the great Khumbu Ice Fall as it tumbles down from Everest. Especially in spring season we may be lucky and see some of the expedition teams as they prepare to climb the mountain. We return to Gorak Shep and descend further to Lobuje or even further to Pheriche.
Day 16
An easy day today after the exertions of the last few days. Retracing our steps along the terminal moraine we descend into the Pheriche valley with spectacular views of Ama Dablam all day. Passing through the village of Pheriche we join the main Imja Khola Valley, which we follow down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape with superb views looking back to the great ridge of Lhotse-Nuptse that hides the lower slopes of Everest. Pangboche, at 3,985m is the highest permanent settlement on the approach to Everest and in the upper village there is a gompa (monastery) founded by the lama Sange Dorje, who first brought Buddhism to this region some three hundred years ago. We drop down to the rushing Imja Khola and then walk through the peaceful rhododendron forests, to the village of Devoche and then Thyangboche at 3867m. From here we have a fantastic panorama of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Thyangboche has long been a sacred spot and it is here we spend the night.
Day 17-18
We retrace our steps southwards with a final climb to the airstrip at Lukla.
Day 19
We fly back to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (Very occasionally the flight back from Lukla is cancelled. In this case we would try to fly back to Kathmandu on the morning of day 20).
Day 20
End Kathmandu after breakfast.
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